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Body of missing millionaire farmer William Taylor found in river near his home

The body of William Taylor has been found (Picture: SWNS)
The body of William Taylor has been found (Picture: SWNS)

A body found in a river has been formally identified as a multi-millionaire farmer who had been missing for eight months.

William “Bill” Taylor was last seen at home at Gosmore, near Hitchin, Hertfordshire, last June.

His body was discovered by a member of the public on February 10 in the River Hiz, near Charlton Road.

He had disappeared from his £1.2 million home, Harkness Hall, at about 9pm on June 3 – just days before his 70th birthday.

He was reported missing to police the following day and police, sniffer dogs and a helicopter were used in the countryside search around the farm.

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It later emerged the grandfather’s Land Rover Defender was deliberately set on fire in the days before he went missing.

Mr Taylor’s body was found near his home in Hertfordshire (Picture: SWNS)
Mr Taylor’s body was found near his home in Hertfordshire (Picture: SWNS)

Mr Taylor’s estranged wife, Angela Taylor, 52, from Hitchin, and her partner, Paul Cannon, 53, also from Hitchin, are both charged with arson, murder and conspiracy to murder.

They are due to appear at St Albans Crown Court on April 8.

Gwyn Griffiths, aged 59, from Folkestone, Kent, has also been charged with conspiracy to murder and assisting offenders in connection with Mr Taylor’s death.

He is due to appear at St Albans Crown Court on March 4.

A 23-year-old man and an 18-year-old man were previously arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder but were later released on police bail.

Mr Taylor’s family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

Police say extensive enquiries have been carried out at the scene by officers from the Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Major Crime Unit.

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